#stadri emblems

So, you have decided that you finally want to make your own embroidered patches. That’s great! Whether you are an artist or designer who wants to see your work in thread form, an event organizer looking to make patches for your upcoming event, or if you need patches for your business or organization, we can help! With over 40 years in the business, we know just what it takes to produce amazing patches.

This guide will help you through the process. From coming up with a concept to receiving your final product, we will guide you step-by-step. First, let’s take a look at some of the different options you can choose from.

Introduction to Patch Options

Embroidery Percentage

Your patch’s embroidery percentage refers to the amount of your patch that is covered with thread. A patch is embroidered on to a fabric called “twill.” A patch with less than 100% embroidery will still have some of its twill showing.

Patches up to 99% embroidery will be a little cheaper than ones that are 100%. When making the choice between these options, consider your design first. When twill is visible, it’s usually used as the ‘background’ color. If your design has a solid background color, then less than 100% might be a good option for you. Or maybe you prefer the look of a 100% embroidered patch. It’s up to you!

Patch Border Options

Embroidered patches have two border options: Merrowed and Die-Cut.

Merrowed borders wrap around the outside of the patch and are slightly raised. Merrowed borders are possible on designs that aren’t too complex. Squares, ovals, rockers, circles and similar shapes can have merrowed borders.

Die-cut borders can be used on simple shapes as well. But, they are usually used on complex shapes. If your design has a piece that protrudes out or has complex edges, it will most likely need to have a die-cut edge. There is no price difference between the two options.

Backing Options

There are a variety of backing options available for embroidered patches. If you’re looking to save a little money, the plastic backing option is included in our orders for free. For an additional small per-patch fee, you can also have iron-on, adhesive, hook and loop (one or two sides), pin back, or magnetic backings. You can also choose to have no backing at all.

Thread Colors

We have hundreds of vibrant thread colors to choose from. Your first 10 thread colors are included for free with your order, and additional colors are available for a small per-patch fee. If your patch is less than 100% embroidery, you can also select the color of your twill. The twill does not count towards your total thread count. You don’t have to select thread colors yourself, though; our expert team can pick the closest match for you. With so many colors to choose from, we will most certainly have a thread to closely match each color in your design.

Designing your first patch

So now that you are familiar with your options, let’s talk about your design! Embroidery can be really beautiful, but it does have limitations. Designing your patch in a smart way will ensure that your patch is recognizable, readable, and beautiful. It’s also important not to load up your patch design with too many elements. Unless your patch is huge, having many tiny elements on a single design will usually make it look cluttered. This also gives less space for details. Consider which parts of your design are the most important and focus on those instead of giving less attention to several elements. We also have a team of talented artists to help you out with design as well.

Text size

We recommend that any text on an embroidered patch be at least 0.25” high. With text that is at the minimum size, your font choice needs to be something simple. Myriad, Helvetica, or Arial are all great font choices for minimum size text. Text with embellishment, script, or very thin lines will usually not stitch well at small sizes.

If your design has small text, you can also enlarge the size of your patch to accommodate the stitching, or you can also switch the process to a woven patch instead. These types of patches have a completely different look from embroidered ones, but they allow for much smaller text and details.

Choosing Colors

We offer up to 10 thread colors for free, but sometimes designs packed full of color will go well-over 10. If you don’t want to pay the additional fee for 11+ colors, consider combining similar colors. For example, if you have 2 different yellows, you can eliminate one and make them both the same. Make sure to pick colors with enough contrast to make your patch readable. Depending on the situation, sometimes using fewer colors can make a more striking design than one will many colors.

Patch Design

Coming up with an interesting or unique design can sometimes be difficult. Try taking a look at our patch gallery for some inspiration. It might be tempting to add several different elements to your patch, but that isn’t always beneficial to the design. Simple designs can have lots of impact!

We can also blend colors to make beautiful gradients, and stitch in different directions to create beautiful textures. There are also some unique-looking threads available: glow-in-the-dark, metallic, and neon!

What if I’m not a designer or artist?

Don’t worry; all of our orders come with artwork set-up for free. Whether your design just needs some small tweaks or you only have a napkin drawing, we have you covered. If you don’t have finished art, here are a few tips for describing what you are envisioning to your artist:

1. Be as descriptive as possible! If there are any details that are important to you, let us know!

2. Feel free to send us photos or examples to help the artists know what you’d like.

3. Make a rough sketch, if possible. Even if it’s not very detailed, having a sketch can be really helpful to our artists.

The Order Process

Once you have an idea of what you want, you can start the order process. Our process is fairly simple, but let’s go through it step by step.

1. One you get a free quote through our website, you will be assigned a dedicated account manager. Your account manager will be able to advise you on pricing and help you decide if you are unsure which product you want. If you need assistance with artwork, you will have direct access to your assigned artist.


2. Your artist will send you a digital rendition of your patch for your approval. Once you are satisfied with your artwork, we will then move on to the next step. If you have finished artwork, we will inspect it to make sure it will stitch properly before we move on.


3. The next step is for you to approve a sewn sample. We will send you a photo of a single sewn sample for your approval. At this step, most patch samples look great and we proceed to full production. However, sometimes small adjustments, like color changes, need to be made. You will have this opportunity to make small changes to your patch if necessary.


4. It usually takes about 2-3 weeks for us to complete an order and ship it to you. Rush services are available as well.
   
   

Hopefully, this cleared up some questions you might have had about making custom embroidered patches! Leave us a comment, or send us an email if you need any more information.

If you’re ready to make your first patch, get a free quote from Stadri Emblems here!

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Send us an ask if you have any questions!

We know that ordering patches or pins can be a little scary because of the up-front cost associated with it. We also offer a price-match guarantee. If you are thinking of ordering some customer patches soon, take a look at a few easy ways to shave some dollars off of your cost!

1. The more you order, the less each patch will cost.
We have price breaks on patches at certain quantities. Sometimes, It’s worth it to order a few more patches to get to the next pricing break. Check out our online price chart to see the quantity discounts. 

2. Do our Buy 25, get 25 offer on patches!
If you order 25 patches with us, you get an additional 25 for free! This is the perfect deal if you need 50 patches.

3. Keep your color count under 10.
With our company, you get 10 thread colors for free with every embroidered patch order. You can definitely get more than 10 colors on your patch, but there’s an additional fee. If your design has too many colors, consider combining similar colors to get to 10 or under. We also offer design services for free if you need help.

4. Keep your patches on the smaller size if you can.
One of the major factors in determining price is size. The bigger the patch, the more it will cost. Larger patches do give you the option for more detail and text options. We can help you find the perfect size if you need help. As you can see below, you will lose some detail on smaller sizes. It depends on what your design is!

5.Get on our mailing list for deals
Sign up for our mailing list so you can make sure you get all of our special offers. Sign up here.

6. Choose a plastic backing (or no backing)
Plastic or no backing are the free options when ordering patches. The disadvantage of getting one of these options is that you will have to sew your patches on by hand. It’s up to you! If you want to instead get a heat seal backing so you can iron your patches on, it’s only an additional 11 cents per patch.

7. Don’t wait until the last minute to start your order
We can cover you with a rush service if you need your patches ASAP… but of course there will be an additional fee for that. If you have a convention or event coming up, make sure to get your merchandise squared away as soon as you can. Place your order for your next event before you forget again.

8. Choose less than 100% embroidery
With embroidered patches, there are basically two options: 100% embroidery coverage, or less than 100%. Patches are embroidered on to a fabric called ‘twill’. A patch with less than 100% coverage will have some of the twill showing. Some patches look really great with less than 100% coverage, but some look better as 100%. If you like the look, try less than 100% coverage to save some money.

9. Opt to get our info stickers on the back of your patches.
If you want to give us a little shout-out when you sell or distribute your patches, we will give you a discount. We will apply the stickers, and you get the discount. It’s super easy. The stickers just have our company name and contact info!
6-99 pieces: get $5 off your order
100-499 pieces: get $10 off your order
500-999 pieces: get $15 off your order
1000+ pieces: get $20 off your order

If you have any questions at all, or want a price quote, you can send us a message on Tumblr.You can also get a free quote on our website if you want to check out our pricing. 

In recent years, pins have gained massive popularity. Many artists are turning their designs into patches and enamel pins. Flair is giving artists a new way to sell their art as a product. If you have been wanting to make enamel pins (or another type of pin!) we made this guide for you!

There are several options for lapel pins, and some options might work better for your design than others. For pins with color, hard and soft enamel are the most popular choice. Diestruck pins have a classic and dimensional metal look. If you prefer to have your pin printed, we also have a silk screen process.

Soft enamel pins are one of the most popular choices for designers and artists. These pins have a slightly texture due to the raised metal edges. Many people enjoy the charm of a soft enamel pin because of its classic look. It’s also very affordable.

Hard enamel pins have a smooth, scratch resistant surface. They are more durable than soft enamel, but just as bright and colorful. Each pin is hand-polished and plated, giving it a smooth finish. Hard enamel is a good choice if you want to make sure your pins will last a long time!

Die Struck pins have a classic, metal look. The design is first stamped into a piece of copper, then the pins are plated and polished. The end result creates a “tone on tone” pin with an elegant look.

If your pin can’t be simplified into simple color shapes, we can also use a silk screen process for your pins! A clear epoxy dome is applied to the pin to protect it and give it a glossy shine.

Now that you have a better understanding of which pin processes are available, let’s talk about your artwork. Stadri Emblems offers free artwork set-up with every order. If you need help making clean artwork, we can assist you. Even if your drawing is just a sketch, we can make it into usable art for you.
The most successful pin designs are simple, but have a strong focal point. Try to simplify very small details. Since most pins are about 1″ high, some detail can be lost on very complex designs. Try combining similar colors, enlarging text, and removing irrelevant details to keep your design simple.

When designing a pin, consider text size and placement as well as the number of colors you use. The first 4 colors on your pin are included, and extra colors are an additional charge. Keep that in mind if you want to keep your costs low.

We also offer some really cool extra options, like glow-in-the-dark, glitter, and rhinestones! Let us know what kind of pin you are envisioning and we can help make it happen. We offer many types of metal finished to compliment any design.

We also have a few options for backings. We have more, listed on our website, but these are the most common. Butterfly clutches are very common, but rubber clutches are also very popular. Spring clutches are a good choice for a very secure hold. 

If you’re ready to make a pin, let us know! We also just dropped our prices! We guarantee to have the highest quality AND the lowest prices of any other US company. 

Feel free to send us a message here on tumblr, or get a free quote on our website.

Stadri Emblems Website